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The Portugese were the first Europeans to reach what is now Namibia. Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão landed there (1486) as part of the effort to reach anf round the Cape of Goof Hope. Hec may have been accompanied by German navigator and geographer Martin Behaim who was in the empoyment of the King of Portugal at the time.
The Portuguese, Durch, and British fovused on South Africa and have little attention to Naminia, in part because large areas were comprised of desert areas. The Rheinidch-evangelische Missionsgesellschaft establishes a Protestant mission among the Herero, one of the major tribes (1844). The British did become interested in
Walvis Bay because of it was one of the best natural ports in southern Africa. A British force landed there and declared it to be part of the Cape Colony (1878). Adolf Lüderitz, a Bremen merchant, took the first step toward colonization. He contacted German officials to inform them he planned to build a factory along the coast of southern Africa between the Orange River and the Little Fish River (1878). He wanted to know if would receive protection if needed (1882). His timing was excellent. The new Kaiser Wilhelm II was interested in colonial expansion. German officials contact the British to inform them of Lüderitz's plans and to determine if Britain has any claims to the area (February 1883). A representative for Lüderitz landed at Angra Pequeña Bay and concludes a treaty with the Nama Chief Joseph Fredericks (April 1883). He obtains 215 square miles surrounding the Bay. Lüderitz’s AAfrican land is later extended south to the border of the Cape Colony at the south bank of the Orange River. The German ambassador in London makes another inquiry about British claims in the area. Foreign Minister Lord Granville interates British cims to Walvis Bay, but indicates that an accord could be worked out. Germany annexed Southwest Africa (Deutsch Sudwestafrika) (1884). It proved to be the only German colony in Africa where an appreciable number of Germans actually settled. German authorities brutally supressed native Nama and Herero upridsings. The first Hottentot Uprising of the Nama (1893-94) was followed by the Herero Wars (1904). After the outbreak of World War I (1914), a largely South African force invaded and seized the colony (1915). After World War I in the Versailles Peace Treaty, Southwest Africa became a League of Nations Mandate to be administered by South Africa (1919). The colony became independent as Namibia (1990).
The Portugese were the first Europeans to reach what is now Namibia. Portuguese explorer Diogo Cão landed there (1486) as part of the effort to reach anf round the Cape of Goof Hope. Hec may have been accompanied by German navigator and geographer Martin Behaim who was in the empoyment of the King of Portugal at the time.
The Portuguese, Durch, and British fovused on South Africa and have little attention to Naminia, in part because large areas were comprised of desert areas. The Rheinidch-evangelische Missionsgesellschaft establishes a Protestant mission among the Herero, one of the major tribes (1844).
The British did become interested in Walvis Bay because of it was one of the best natural ports in southern Africa. A British force lsanded there and declared it to be part of the Cape Colony (1878). br>
Adolf Lüderitz, a Bremen merchant, took the first step toward colonization. He contacted German officials to inform them he planned to build a factory along the coast of southern Africa between the Orange River and the Little Fish River (1878). He wanted to know if would receive protection if needed (1882). His timing was excellent. The new Kaiser Wilhelm II was interested in colonial expansion. German officials contact the British to inform them of Lüderitz's plans and to determine if Britain has any claims to the area (February 1883). A representative for Lüderitz landed at Angra Pequeña Bay and concludes a treaty with the Nama Chief Joseph Fredericks (April 1883). He obtains 215 square miles surrounding the Bay. Lüderitz’s AAfrican land is later extended south to the border of the Cape Colony at the south bank of the Orange River. The German ambassador in London makes another inquiry about British claims in the area. Foreign Minister Lord Granville interates British cims to Walfis Bay, butt indicates that an accord could be worked out. Chancellor Bismarck telegraphed a Mr. Lippert, the German Consul in Capetown, with instructions to inform the Government of the Cape Colony that, “Lüderitz Land”, is now formally under the protection of the German Empire (April 1884). Germany
The German Government proclaimed a protectorate over Lüderitzland officially ammexing it. (June 1884).
Herero Chief Maherero Kajamuaha preferred British protection, but has to sign a treaty of protection and amity with Germany (October 1884).
Southwest Africa proved to be the only German colony in Africa where an appreciable number of Germans actually settled. They were still a minisule portion of the iverwealingly African population, nothing like the Boers in South Africa. Still they were the largest Germn colonian population.
Great Britain agreed to cede a 100 km wide strip, 480 km long, along the Portuguese Angola border with British Bechuanaland (July 1890). This extended German South West Africa’s borders east to the Zambezi River. German Chancellor Georg von Caprivi hoped to establish a trade route linking the Southwest Africa with German East Africa via the rivers and Lake Tanganyika. This was the same time that the Bitish were establish Souther Rhodesia as a colony. The strip still exists and had become known as the Caprivi Strip. Today the Strip touches on the western tip of Zimbabwe (former Southern Rhodesia) near Victoria Falls.
German authorities brutally supressed native uprisings. The first Hottentot Uprising (1893-94) was followed by the Herero Wars (1904).
Europeans referred to the Khoikhoi as Hottentos. They were the native people of southwestern Africa, closely related to the Bushmen (or San people). They are also referred to as the Nama because of the language they speak.
The Khoikhoi tribal leader Endrik Witbooi led the first Hottentot Uprising (1893-94), This was followed by a number of other incidents. of the occurred.
The most important was the Herero Wars (1904). It is some times referred to as the Herero Genocide because of the German response in supressing the revolt. The Herero were a Bantu people. The insurgency was led by Hendrik Witbooi and Jakobus Morenga (the black Napoleon).
The insurgents began by attacking the remote, unprotected farms of German settlers. About 150 German settlers were killed. The Nama also entered the struggle. Because of the large area involved, the colonial Schutztruppe of 766 Germans and and native auxiliary was unable to contain the the Herero insurgency. They even managed to reach Okahandja and Windhoek. They demolished the important railway bridge to Osona.
In total, between 25,000 and 100,000 Herero, more than 10,000 Nama and 1,749 Germans died in the conflict.
The Germans dispsatched 14,000 troops to the colony under the command of Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha. The insurgents foolishly fought a comnventionl battle and were destoyed at the Battle of Waterberg (August 1904). The insurgency continued at a low level. The Germans finally defeated the rebellion (1907–08).
Von Trotha delt with the defeated Herero harshly. He announced that they were no longer German subjects and ordering them to leave the colony, threatening to kill ny who remazined. The Herero were forced to leave therir farms and hide in the arid Omaheke region, ajoining the desolate Kalahari Desert. Many died of thirst. The Germans guarded the water sources and were ordered to shoot any adult male Herero who attmpted to get water.
Other natives were held in detention. Their treatment varied, but included dispossession, deportation, forced labor, and racial descrimination. [Kössler and Melber] Some survived as the Himba people.
World War I campe as a surprise to most Europeans. It was not a foregone conclusion that Britain wound eter the War. The German invasion of Belgium settled the issue. Africa was an area where Germany anbd Britain had a common border. And Dominion/Colonal officials were perhaps more aware of the potential for conflict than the Bitish Governmnt. And unlike the German Army on the conntinent, the Royal Navy put the German colonial armies at a serious disadvantage. Immediately after the German invasion of Belgium and British declaation of war (August 1914) Prime Minister Louis Botha informed the British Government that South Africa could and would defend itself. Because of the Boer War (1899-1902), there were more substantial Imperial forcs in South africa than was the case for most othr Dominions. Botha advised the British Government that the Imperial Garrison could safely be redeployed in France. Southwest Africa had the largest German population of all the country's colonies. Even so tge European population in South Arica was much greater. The British Government then asked Botha if his forces could invade German South-West Africa. Botha replied that that they could and would. South Africa mobilised troops along the northwestern border with Southwest Africa (Septenbr 1914). General Henry Lukin and Lt Col Manie Maritz were placed in command. The first major action was seizing the port of Lüderitz in southern Southwest Africa. The Germans had supported the Boers during the Boer War. As a result there was sympathy among the South African Boer population for the Germans. This was probably more anti-British than pro-German sentiment. A largely South African force invaded and seized the colony (1915). The military action was completed much more quickly than the comparable action in German East Africa. After World War I in the Versailles Peace Treaty, Southwest Africa became a League of Nations Mandate to be administered by South Africa (1919). The colony became independent as Namibia (1990).
Kössler, Reinhart and Henning Melber. "Völkermord und Gedenken: Der Genozid an den Herero und Nama in Deutsch-Südwestafrika 1904-1908," ("Genocide and memory: the genocide of the Herero and Nama in German South-West Africa, 1904-08") in Jahrbuch zur Geschichte und Wirkung des Holocaust (2004), pp. 37-75.
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